Escape (Open)

[Avaris]

Avaris heard a faint "excuse me' and the remnants of a yawn. Nothing to excuse really. Actions like that gave Lily away as a court lady. She scoffed lightly; to herself and shook her head gently as she pulled the guards from her wrists, rubbing them lightly. The ale had settled well into her stomach and she was quite relaxed now. There hadn't been many dragon attacks lately, and she liked to think it was her doing. Most likely not, considering she wasn't the only Hunter around. Hunting dragons was mostly a solitary life. Many of them were selfish for their purses of gold, rather than simply getting the job done. She encountered people only when she ventured into small towns and villages for shelter and a warm meal. Being a loner wasn't all that bad..although it occasionally was a lonely affair.

With a small sigh, she put a hand to brush the words away. "Don't worry about it." She reached behind her shoulder and pulled the tight chain mail from her small form. It rode up her shirt a little, revealing the end of the massive scar on her hip that started on her shoulder. Avaris winced a little, feeling the pressure of a new bruise, from the fight earlier no doubt. She plopped it down onto the floor and sat down to pull on her boots. "Not really...I follow the prospect of a warm bed and some food." she chuckled, tossing her messy curls on her shoulder. "And you?"

[Lily]

Lily could hear Avaris moving around, but wasn't really looking at her, instead she was staring at the ceiling. She didn't really dare move now she was lying down, the bruising on her ribs would probably become all too apparent over night, she didn't imagine that she would sleep well at all. It would also be interesting to explain back at the castle to her chamber maid. Even though the woman knew not to ask questions, Lily usually found herself telling her how it had happened, with her maid giving suitable reactions, and not breathing a word to anyone else.

"Me?" It shouldn't have surprised her when the question was bounced back to her, but it took her a moment to reply. "This town is like my second home," she said, honestly, "I come here when I need to get away. Julian is usually happy to have me around for a few hours, roughing up his regulars. He finds it very amusing." Unable to quell a yawn, it turned into a grimace half way through, her chest complaining at the sudden movement and use of the muscles there, and in her stomach. "That thug in the bar had one hell of a grip," she said, almost complaining, while gently rubbing her abdomen, "like a vice." Judging from Avaris' slow movements, Lily wasn't the only injured one.

[Avaris]

Avaris nodded, listening to Lily's story."He was an abnoramally large brute..thank you for rescuing me as well." Normally she wouldn't even come in such close contact with others, but she didn't mind Lily. Human contact was, if she dare say it, nice every once in a while. Not to mention, feminine contact. She acted anything but how a woman should act, and sometimes she mentally took pointers. Avaris leaned back onto the bed a little, her attention catching a divider and a large tub off to the far corner. The chamber maid must've prepared one.

"uhmm..Lily..it seems there's a hot bath prepared, would you like it or I? I..uhm..I honestly haven't had one in weeks, but if you'd prefer it, I don't mind." She sat up a little, rubbing her sore shoulder again. The water would truuly only stay clean or warm for one of them. She was almost selfishly hoping for it, but tried to find it in her to have manners. She did invite Lily to share the room with her, so the least she could do was be nice to her new..friend. That's usually what friends did.

[Lily]

"It was no trouble," she said, with a slight wave of the hand, "you helped me, I helped you, we both helped Julian, everything turned out okay. I'd say that was a good day all around." ...despite the war wounds. The ale was worth it. And the company. It was nice to have non-obnoxious female company for once, someone that could handle herself and enjoyed punch-ups about as much she did. She wasn't very forthcoming, but definitely more bareable than the usual company she had to endure.

Raising her head a little, she glanced over at the bath and chuckled a little, "go ahead. I can have one when I return home." She had one only the other day, and besides, the smell might help to keep any unwanted attention away. She smirked at her own thoughts. "I'll keep on studying the ceiling, that seems to be going well so far." What she meant was, she wouldn't look while Avaris changed. "Enjoy." It would also give her a chance to strip her corset, deal with the bruises that were rapidly forming across her ribs.

[Avaris]

Avaris looked hungrily at the bath, desperate to soak in it's welcoming waters. She didn't need to be told a second time. She pulled up the cotton shirt and tossed it up over the wooden barrier along with her pants. In one swift motion she had sunk into the hot water, slinking down till it covered her shoulder. The pain became more apparent now as the hot water caressed her every bruise and scar. It felt so heavenly she honestly had to keep herself from crying.

She sat in silence for a few minutes, before wondering about her new friend. Conversation still hadn't gone very far. "So...Lily.." she called over the barrier.. "Where are you from exactly?"

[Lily]

As soon as Lily heard Avaris descend into the bath water, she hoisted herself up off the bed, moving slowly and carefully as she stripped down to merely her shirt and trousers, her ribs complaining the whole time. She was going to have to visit the physician when she returned to the citadel, no doubt, for something that would relieve the pain, or at least ease the bruising. She didn't fancy having to make light conversation while constantly fighting the urge to wince or screw up her face. They'd think she had some sort of illness.

Falling back onto the bed, and immediately regretting it, she was pulling her legs up under her when Avaris' question came. There was only the briefest of moments where she considered not telling the truth, she was a good liar, but it didn't seem right, not here and now. If she wanted a genuine friend, she had to be honest from the start. "Well, I was born not too far from here, but I live in the Citadel, with my brother. We've lived there ever since my parents died." Her brother was her only living family, the only one who understood her, but he spent a lot of time way hunting and such. "It was a fire, in the house, my brother saved my life."

[Avaris]

Avaris rested her head against the back rim and tried to cover as much skin as possible under the hot water. The water murked a little, most likely from all the dirt that had clung to her skin. She washed what she could off with the wash cloth and for once, felt human...if not feminine again. bathing was a luxury, one she actually missed. The streams and rivers did their job, but nothing compared to the heat the bath provided.. From the sounds and shuffling over the barrier, she guessed Lily was trying to get comfortable on the other side.

Lily answered a moment later, and gave her side of the story. Tragic, but then again who's wasn't these days? Maybe she should branch out and tell her own story. When she closed her eyes, if for only a second, she immediately relived the pain. "I am sorry to hear that...at least you have someone though...it is more than some have. You have no idea how it feels to be utterly alone in the world. Avaris swallowed deep, felling a lump attempt to form in the back of her throat. She sniffled a little, then shook off the feeling. There was no time for tears for Avaris, ever.